American Students in Vienna Ask Minister Whether They Ought to Return to U.S.

October 31, 1932

Vienna (Oct. 29)

A delegation of twenty-five American students, including non-Jews, representing the American student body at the University of Vienna visited the American Minister, G. B. Stockton, today to learn whether it is advisable for them to return to the United States, in view of the anti-Semitic disturbances or whether the American Minister will assure American citizens of protection.

The American Minister assured the delegation that the most far-reaching protection would be accorded. He advised the students to remain aloof from Austrian politics and to try to pursue their studies peaceably. If trouble recurs, an American self-defense group should be organized, the Minister said, and the students should immediately leave the University campus.

The meeting with the American Minister was followed by a stormy session where the delegation reported to the American student body the results of the interview.

A section of the student body expressed dissatisfaction with the results of the interviews between the American Minister and the Austrian government and educational authorities, declaring that insufficient guarantees of peace had been given by the Austrian authorities.

The American students, it is learned, are waiting to see what transpires in the next few weeks. Should the disturbances recur, a large group of American students, including non-Jews, is planning to leave Austria, it is learned.

The indignation of the American students has further been aroused by the publication in the Nazi press of a list of the names of American students at the University which gives their number as one hundred and twenty.

Their anger is particularly aroused because the list which is the property of the University officials, is supposed to be confidential.

The Nazi press states that 74% of the American students are Jews, 12% are atheists or converts to Christianity, or have names that sound Jewish. The Nazi organs conclude that “real Americans” constitute only 14% of the group. Therefore America should have no interest in protecting the Jews and the Austrian government should not take seriously the American Legation’s protests, which should be regarded as purely formal.

In addition, the Nazi papers point out, it is impossible to ask German students, while they are engaged in beating up a student, to investigate whether, for example, the Jewish nose of Israel Chanin accidently settled in America.

To this the papers add that it is altogether untrue that Americans were injured. No official protocol exists and the injuries of not a single American are certified by the police doctor who treated the injured.

The stories, the Nazi papers conclude, are therefore, based on the chattering and treasonous Jewish press reports.